Mexico is often unfairly painted with the “it’s all dangerous” label.
It often surprises many tourists to learn that there are actually many safe destinations here too, that are visited annually with rarely any problems.
Having said that, there are still some places in Mexico that are pretty dangerous to visit regardless, and that’s what this article will focus on.
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The Most Dangerous Places in Mexico
In fact, this guide explores some of the most dangerous cities in Mexico and aims to look at why each city has earned its place on this list.
To be able to gain the confidence to travel to Mexico it will also look at the safety situation in the country to see if it’s improving or just getting worse.
It might be worth reading up on these dangerous states in Mexico before diving into this list to get a better idea of where these places are situated.
Why are some parts of Mexico so dangerous?
Firstly, it’s important to mention that when referring to the word “dangerous” in this particular article, I am actually talking about people and not other risks such as rabid animals or any environmental risks.
Putting the typical Mexican stereotypes aside for a moment, the main reason parts of Mexico are so dangerous is often due to the drug trade.
There are many cartels that operate throughout Mexico, however, they tend to focus on certain areas (usually where drug production or consumption is highest) which in turn makes them no-go areas for tourists.
Other reasons are because certain areas are poorer, more politically unstable, or just the general attitude of that particular place (for example not being tourist friendly or open to certain ethnic groups).
Is Mexico dangerous for tourists?
No, Mexico is not dangerous for tourists if as a tourist you follow the government guidelines. For example, the Travel.State.Gov website even gives U.S. citizens advice on which dangerous states in Mexico to avoid.
The good news is that there are cities and even safe states in Mexico that you can visit for a vacation or as a backpacker and have a trouble-free trip.
I for example have found places like Costa Maya great locations to be able to escape the commercial tourism traps and find off beaten track towns.
Why can’t Mexico deal with the cartels?
Reports say that Mexico can’t defeat cartels because of corruption and a dysfunctional justice system that allows cartels to be tipped off in advance.
This war is said to have killed more than 50,000 people and the drug-induced security crisis that Mexico faces today has some of the world’s smartest people looking for answers on how to solve this issue.
Do cartels in Mexico bother tourists?
Despite what people may think when it comes to danger in Mexico, it is highly unlikely that a tourist in Mexico will meet with a cartel member.
However, those who travel to Mexico looking to consume illegal substances put themselves one step closer to the local crime gangs and cartels.
Touristic locations such as Mazatlán or Puerto Vallarta are magnets for recreational drug tourism and by purchasing drugs from the local market you are likely to be dealing with somebody who is connected with a cartel.
Is the safety situation improving?
As a whole, things are slowly but surely improving. Mexico has always been a very popular tourist destination, and as such the government are taking steps to ensure public safety is as high as possible.
Whilst many areas are slowly becoming safer (such as Chiapas and Mexico City), there are of course areas where such efforts still reap low rewards.
I’ll be taking a look at a few of these below, as these areas have a long way to go before we can consider them “tourist friendly” destinations.
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10 most dangerous places in Mexico
Now we’ll explore the 10 most dangerous places in Mexico. This article uses data gathered from Numbeo to compare each place, using different statistics such as levels of crime and assault to give a more clearer picture.
For reference, 100 is the most dangerous, whilst 0 is the safest.
To give a familiar comparison to the places mentioned below in this article, note that the city of New York scored 49.02 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
10. Mazatlán
This popular coastal city is a prime spot for beachside vacations, and is located in the northern state of Sinaloa.
Unfortunately, many parts of the city remain unsafe due to the large presence of drug cartels (Sinaloa is the epicentre of this trade in Mexico).
However, having said this, the local government and police have done a really good job in cleaning this up, which is evident from the statistics below. Mazatlán scored 43.48 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Mazatlán:
| Population | 470,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 50.00 / 100 |
| Theft | 59.85 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 44.85 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 45.45 / 100 |
9. Cancun
Cancún is one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico, which is located in the state of Quintana Roo. It’s quite dangerous in certain areas (although these are far from the touristy areas and resorts of the city).
Most violence in Cancún is due to drug-related activities, and anyone who willingly gets themselves involved (such as those who buy drugs). Cancún scored 56.25 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Cancun:
| Population | 998,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 61.08 / 100 |
| Theft | 57.81 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 57.93 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 74.05 / 100 |
8. Chihuahua City
One of the biggest cities in the north of Mexico, Chihuahua is a popular place to visit due to its proximity to the Copper Canyon.
However, this city is dangerous as it’s known for cartel-related violence, as well as kidnapping (again these are mostly between factions and not targeted at the general population). Chihuahua City scored 56.25 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Chihuahua City:
| Population | 1,096,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 68.55 / 100 |
| Theft | 54.84 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 63.71 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 65.62 / 100 |
7. Ciudad Victoria
Now for a lesser known city. Ciudad Victoria is located in the northern state of Tamaulipas, which runs adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.
Ciudad Victoria has earned its place on this list due to its problems with drug trafficking and shootouts between cartels. Much of this is also due to violence that occurs within prisons too, just to give more clarification. Ciudad Victoria scored 62.44 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Ciudad Victoria:
| Population | 374,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 71.15 / 100 |
| Theft | 65.38 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 67.31 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 61.54 / 100 |
6. Acapulco
Next we have Acapulco, which is a beachside city in the state of Guerrero. It’s a pretty popular holiday city for those heading to the Pacific Coast, where it also has a notorious nightlife scene.
Acapulco is dangerous as some cartels operate in the area, and also as theft and violent crime is more common (especially in the centre of the city). Acapulco scored 63.01 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Acapulco:
| Population | 1,000,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 80.56 / 100 |
| Theft | 64.86 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 72.37 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 60.53 / 100 |
5. Ciudad Juárez
Now we have another notorious city, which tends to make news on an international scale. Ciudad Juárez is located in the state of Chihuahua, and is another major crossing point into the USA.
Most violence here is related to drug production and smuggling activities. Ciudad Juárez scored 68.48 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Ciudad Juárez:
| Population | 1,500,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 79.26 / 100 |
| Theft | 71.20 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 73.96 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 56.38 / 100 |
4. Mexico City
The capital of Mexico is quite diverse. There are many parts which are safe and popular for tourism, however there’s also many barrios which are really not safe to visit.
Most violence here is either due to robbery or assault. Mexico City scored 68.52 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Mexico City:
| Population | 22,085,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 78.42 / 100 |
| Theft | 74.07 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 79.66 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 79.16 / 100 |
3. Culiacán
Now we head to Culiacán, which is the most notorious city in Mexico for the presence of drug cartels. It’s located in the northern state of Sinaloa.
Whilst the majority of violence here occurs between cartel members and the police force (who are in constant riffs), sometimes violence can be targeted towards civilians too. Culiacán scored 70.18 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Culiacán:
| Population | 870,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 83.65 / 100 |
| Theft | 68.27 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 78.85 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 76.92 / 100 |
2. Tijuana
Next up we have Tijuana, which is quite a popular vacation break that you’ve most likely already heard of. Located on the US border, in the state of Baja California, it’s one of the major crossing points into the USA.
This city is well known for its drugs trade, and subsequent related crime. Despite this, Tijuana still ranks as one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico. Tijuana scored 70.92 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Tijuana:
| Population | 2,220,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 81.58 / 100 |
| Theft | 79.26 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 76.30 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 74.81 / 100 |
1. Celaya
Another lesser known city on our list, Celaya now officially ranks as the most dangerous city in Mexico, and one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Located in the usually safe state of Guanajuato, the high amount of violence here is due to the presence of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel.
Since 2020, there have been countless shootouts between them and the local police as the government tries to put a stop to the drug trafficking trade. Celaya scored 81.98 on Numbeo’s Crime Index.
Crime data on Celaya:
| Population | 698,000 |
| Levels of Crime | 91.36 / 100 |
| Theft | 87.27 / 100 |
| Assault / Violent Crimes | 88.89 / 100 | Crime increasing in the past 3 Years | 90.91 / 100 |
Mexico Travel Safety Tips
⤵️ Below are some useful tips to help you on your journey:
- Although easy to do at times, don’t disclose too much information about yourself. This includes details such as where you’re staying, your travel plans, etc., even more so if you’re traveling alone.
- If you’re in a beach town in Mexico, remember not to leave any valuables unattended while you swim. Run-and-grab thefts by people lurking in the woods are a common occurrence.
- If you carry expensive equipment to Mexico such as cameras or smartphones, keep them hidden, locked away, and on your person. A PacSafe backpack like this one is perfect for concealing technology.
- Violent crime is one element to be aware of in Mexico but also be aware of credit-card fraud. Attempts are not uncommon when paying for large ticket items.
- The cost of living in Mexico can vary drastically depending on the region. As a safe bet aim to stay vigilant no matter what region you travel to, even in the Yucatan which is considered the safest by many first-time visitors.
- There are certain Mexican traditions that the movies show but they might not be as accurate as you thought. Leave your fancy jewelry and bling-bling at home. Dress to blend in and aim to pack basic clothing.
- If you find yourself going to the ATM to take cash out, don’t take too long at the ATM and always go for the ones inside. You can find ATMs inside supermarkets, hotels, and shopping Malls.
- Don’t accept drugs from people in the street or seek them during your travels in Mexico. Not only is it illegal, but dangerous! The last thing you want to be doing is fueling an industry wrought with crime that the government is actively trying to stop.
Mexico dangerous areas FAQs
See these frequently asked questions about dangerous cities in Mexico:
Most Dangerous Places in Mexico
And that’s all for this guide on the most dangerous places in Mexico.
In general, Mexico is becoming a much safer place to visit for tourists. However, there’s still of course many places that are a complete no-go, for reasons varying from drug cartels to high amounts of theft or violence.
This guide has looked at some of the most dangerous places in Mexico, and why they rank so high. It has also looked at whether or not the safety situation in Mexico is improving so you can make up your mind.
Are you planning a trip or thinking of traveling to Mexico soon? See this comprehensive guide to safe cities in Mexico that you can visit.
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